Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2012

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2012 at 2:00 AM

If you are a betting man, where would you place your bet for who is going to be most burdened with medical bills in the next year of their life – the group under 65 or the group over 65? My money would be on over 65. Now will someone explain to me why the group under 65 is allowed to place “tax free” money into a health-care account to be used for expected medical expenses and those over 65 cannot? Why this important matter is not an issue with seniors is a complete mystery to me.The IRS is sucking the last saved dollar from a senior who is going to need every dollar for medical expenses at this point in his/her life and giving a working stiff (who is probably on a bonus program) a tax break. Do our representatives, who are always exploiting every opportunity to show us how “caring” they are, not know this? Not only should seniors be allowed to put tax-free medical expense money in a health-care account, but also the money should roll over year after year. This bill is a no-brainer, so why are Schumer and Hinchey not doing something about it? Richard BystrakMontgomeryNew Paltz

The new Congress, soon to be filled with fresh faces and many new compassionate conservatives, will be tempted to extend the “Bush tax cuts” in perpetuity. Once again everyone gets to ride on the government gravy train, even the wealthiest 1 percent among us. Break out the champagne – it’s welfare for rich and poor alike.But rich and poor aren’t really alike, are they? If everyone is receiving a tax abatement, then in reality no one is receiving a tax abatement. The point of an abatement is to confer a benefit to one at the expense of the other for the purpose of making the whole stronger and more viable. It’s a utilitarian concept.The so-called Bush tax cuts were never really tax cuts. This is a misnomer, a deliberate mischaracterization – an obscene gift to the wealthy is more to the point. We couldn’t afford it 10 years ago and we certainly can’t afford it today. As a good general understands tactical retreat, we may need to examine the dismantling of empire and the military-industrial complex, which is bringing this country to ruin both morally and economically.Jack MarkowitzChester

The president has asked, in negotiations that have two big deadlines, the fiscal cliff and the debt ceiling limit, for the highest earners to “pay their fair share.”If you live in the area, the chances are really good that you are not the target of his appeal. The amazing thing, to me, is that so many of you agree with the president. Slam the fat cats, who already pay 60 percent of all income tax.If he gets what he wants, the rich will pay about $90 billion more each year in income taxes. That is about what Washington spends every 10 days. We are going into debt at the rate of $1,300 billion each year, and that is from the president’s own budget.I would like to know how the president is leading us to a debt solution if what he is asking for will do absolutely nothing to fix our debt problem. This leadership is a sad joke.Paul R. NatheNew Paltz

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